Liquid-fuel purifier



Jan. 28, 1930. H. E. PELLETIER LIQUID FUEL PURIFIER Filed' Jan. 25, 192sFig. 2

Henry hlNlTeRer TORNEY .Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED srArEs PATENTOFFICE HENRY E. PELLETIER, or JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoR TolEELCO AUTO rRonUcTs, INC., or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEWYORK LIQUID-FUEL PRIEIER VApplication led January 23, 1926. Serial No.83,337.

- internal combustion engine.

The invention contemplates the provisio of a device for removing fromthe fuel, not

only foreign solid particles, but also foreign liquids, such as water,acids and the like before the fuel is fed to the carburetor by means ofla liquid filtering medium andk a wire cloth screen "having certainpeculiar characteristics.

The various objects of my invention will be clear from the descriptionwhich follows and from the drawings, inv which Fig. l is a verticalcentral section of my improved purifier.

Fig. 2 is a front view, partially cut away, of the same, and

Fig.' 3 is a top plan view and partial horizontal Section on the line3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the practical embodiment of my invention, I provide a top or cover as10 having suitable inlet and outlet openings 11 and 12 respectively, andadapted preferably to be secured in place in the fuel feed line. TheAouter ends of said openings are preferably threaded as at 13 and 14 forsuitable connection directly or indirectly, respectively, to the vacuumtank and to the carburetor where such devices are employed. The inletopening 11 is preferably arranged lat the center of the cover 10 in thecylindrical extension 15, while the outlet opening 12 is made in thehorizontally disposed cylindcr 16, and is L-shaped in order to passthrough the material of the cover 10.

. The container portion of my improved purifier consistsof the closedcup 20, preferably of metal, which cup is designed to be readilydetached from the remainder of the device for the purpose of insertingthe filtering liquid 17 and for inspecting or cleaning out, the foreignmatter which may have been removed from the fuel and which may haveaccumulated therein. Said cup is preferably completely closed at itslower end and as illustrated, is preferably constricted at its upper end18 so that when the cover 10 is assembled with said cup, saidr coveroverhangs said cup but a small amount. It will be understood, however,that the cup may be made of uniform diameter, if desired, withoutaffecting the construction or operation of my improved purifier.

At its lower end, the inlet opening 11 is threaded for4 the insertionand attachment therein of the inlet pipe 19. The length of said inletpipe is such that it clears the bottom of the cup and allows the fuel toflow freely thereinto. Sufficient filtering liquid 17 is inserted intothe cup 20 to cover the lower'end 21 of the inlet pipe completely,whereby the fuel is always forced to pass through the filtering liquidas it enters the cup. l

In whatfollows, I will refer to the fuel as gasoline, since thatmaterial is most frequently used as fuel for internal combustionengines. The liquid most economical and effective in practice forwashing or filtering the gasoline is water, and I will refer to saidfiltering liquid as water hereinafter. Furthermore, by reason of thevarious processes used in cracking oils in the manufacture of gasoline,a small amount of acids, such as sulphuric and oleic acids frequentlyremain in the gasoline. I have found that by reason of the affinity ofsulphur-ic and other acids for water, said acids, as Well as the fattyacids which may be contained therein, are removed from the gasoline whensaid gasoline is washed, whereby only purified fuel is allowed to passinto the outlet of my improved device.

The bottom of the cup 2O is close to and disposed substantially at rightangles to the axis of the inlet pipe 19 and consequently at the sameangle to the direction of flow of the incoming stream of gasoline. Saidstream, therefore, impinges against the bottom of the cup withconsiderable velocity, and by the reason of the impact, the stream ofgasoline is broken up and dispersed throughout the water. By reason ofthe breaking up of the incoming gasoline stream as just described, thelfuel which bubbles up through the water is exposed thereto with greatthoroughness and effectively cleansed not only of solid matter, but alsoof the acids and of the water which may be carried therein.

To insure the removal of solid matter from the fuel supplied to thecarburetor, the gasoline is screened in addition to being filtered, aswill be hereinafter more fully described. I have found it advisable tousc a metallic screen as 22 for the double purpose of keeping out boththe filterilw liquid and any solid particles which migit rise above thesurface of the filtering liquid or which might be carried in thegasoline. Said screen 22 is referably made of wire cloth of extremelyEne texture, that is, the screen is very closely woven, and is of suchsubstantial thickness that the openings therein are not visible. I havefound that such a screen will allow the ready passage of gasoline, butif of the proper mesh, 1s effective to keep out liquids heavier thangasoline, such as water and acids, that is, the screen is impervious toliquids heavier than gasoline. The comparatively smooth surface of sucha finely woven wire cloth screen further prevents the adhesion theretoof solid particles light in weight, which particles are constantlyagitated and washed off the screen by the movement of the gasolinetherethrough and cannot clog the fine pores. Most of said particleswhich are lighter than gasoline, however, remain at the surface ofcontact of the water and the gasoline in the cu and seldom rise into thegasoline a sufficient distance to touch the screen at all. The dirtremains in the water, the lighter articles remaining between thegasoline and t e water and being distinguishable as a layer at the uppersurface of the water. For purposes of economy I have shown the screen 22made cylindrical in shape, though it will be understood that the shapethereof may be varied as is most convenient. It will further beunderstood that by making the screen of heav wire cloth, said screen isnot subject readily to deformation as are the usual gauze screens, andthat considerable pressure may safely be put thereupon. In order that apurified supply of gasoline is made instantly available for demandthereon by the carburetor, I provide an outlet compartment 23 in theinterior of the screen.

If desired, a vertical pipe may be threaded into the outlet opening 12,said pipe being of such length as to reach to a oint near the bottom ofthe screen holder 2 whereby the gasoline is drawn from the bottom of theoutlet compartment and the entire contents of said compartment isthereby made available for the feeding thereof to the carburetor. Itwill be noted that the outlet compartment extends centrallysubstantially the entire length of the container 20 and has a volumewhich is a substantial part of the total volume of the container. Saidcompartment is completely sealed against the admission of material fromthe inlet compartment 24 except through the screen 22, and is closed atits upper end by the upper edge 25 of the screen 22 which is pressedinto intimate contact with the gasket 26, of cork, fiber, or othersuitable material, by means soon to be described. The lower end of saidoutlet compartment is closed by the screen holder 27, the lower edge 28of said screen resting on the similar gasket 29 set on a suitableshoulder on the inside of the screen holder 27.

The screen holder is preferably made of sheet metal, and has an uppercylindrical portion 30 shaped to fit the lower edge 28 of the screen andto suitably support and enclose said edge. Bent inwardly from theportion 27 is the substantially horizontal portion 31 on which thegasket 29 rests, and bent from said horizontal portion is the taperingor conical portion 32 preferably closed at the bottom 33 thereof, andhaving an open-- ing as 34 therein through which the inlet pipe 19 ispassed. Said inlet pipe being threaded at its lower end, the screenholder is held in position by means of a nut 35 screwed on the threadedportion of the pipe and adapted to be screwed up against the screenholder with any desired pressure, a suitable gasket as 36 beinginterposed between said nut and said holder bottom 33. It will beseen'that when the nut 36 is tightened on the inlet pipe, the screenholder forces the screen into close contact with the gaskets at bothends thereof whereby a closure proof against leakage thereinto ofmaterial other than gasoline is formed in the interior of the screen andscreen holder and around the inlet pipe.

For securely attaching the cup 20 to the cover 10 with a leak-proofclosure therebetween, I prefer to provide the flange 37 at the upper endof the cup which fiange is brought into contact with the outer portionof the gasket 26 and prevents leakage of gasoline therebetween. Forholding the inner and outer edges of said gasket 26 in position, Iprefer to groove the under side 38 of the cover as by means of theannular groove 39. whereby said gasket is supported along both of itscylindrical edges and prevented from being displaced or spread.

The outlet opening 12 in the cover l() communicates with the compartment24 in thc in terior of the screen and is suitably threaded at its outerend as 14 for connection by means of suitable standard connections, notshown, with the gasoline line to the carburetor. Said cover is providedwith a depending cylindrical iange as 40 on the inside of lwhich is cuta preferably narrow groove as 41 for the re ception of the spring rin42. A multiplicity of projections as 43 are ent inwardly from said ringfor the purpose soon to be described, said ring being made preferably ofa piece of spring wire, theends being left open so that said ring mayexpand and contract in operation. One end 44 of the ring is bent andpassed through the hole 45 in the cover. to maintain said ring in place.Between the flange 37 of the cupv` 20 and the conical portion 46thereof, is secured a rin 4 7 shaped at the lower inner part thereof tot said portion of the cup.` A groove as 48 is made in said ring for thereception of the projection 49 of the cup 20 whereby relative rotationof said ring and cup is prevented. On the outside of the annular ring'47 is formed a. series of spaced inclined cams 50 equal in number tothe-number of projections on the spring ring 42. The outer diameter ofsaid cams is somewhat less than the inside diameter of the flange of thecover 10 so that said cams may be readily inserted into the inside ofsaid cover. The under or working side of each of said cams is preferablyhorizontal, while the outer surface tapers towards and merges withN theouter cylindrical surface of said ring. Ratchet teeth as 51 are cutaround the projecting portion 52 of said annular ring, said teeth beingengaged by the bent spring 53, which is suitably secured to the cover 10as by' the insertion thereof into the slot 54 of said cover and thepassage of the pin 55 therethrough, said pin and the sides of said slotbeing preferably hammered over said spring to prevent the detachmentthereof.

To detach the parts, the cup is given a partial turn, suiiicientto bringthe projections 43 of the spring ring 41 into positionin contact withthe highest point on the under surface of the cams 50, whereby the cupis loosened and may be drawn downwardly away from the cover and past thelowest part of the adl jacent cam. To secure the cup and cover together,the cup is moved upwardly so that the projections of the spring ringpass by the lowest parts of the cams and come into contact with thehighest points of the adjacent cams, which are suitably spaced apart forthat purpose, said cup then being given a partial turn whereby theengagement of the underside of the cams with said spring ringprojections forces the cup into close contact with the gasket 26.

It will be seen that I have provided a-simple construction for securingthe parts together with leak-proof joints therebetween, which may bemanufactured economically and which is efiicient for the purposes forwhich it is designed.

It will further be seen that by the use of ay filtering liquid andsmooth surfaced finely woven wire cloth screen the gasoline isthoroughly cleansed while-the dirt and filtering liquid are maintainedin the outlet compartment for relnoval when desired, and that by meansof the peculiar arrangement of the inlet pipe, the gasoline is dispersedthrough the filtering liquid to insure the cleansing thereof.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the preferredconstruction shown and described without de arting from the scope oftheappended claims, and I, therefore, do not intend to/.limit myself to thespecific structure illustratedl herein.

I claim:

1. In a gasoline purifier, a container, a fil-` f tering liquid partlyfilling said container,

a cover, a comparatively non-deformable,l Hnely woven, smooth-surfaced,wirecloth substantially cylindrical screen, impervious to said filteringliquid and open at both ends thereof, a partly conical screen holder forthe lower end of said screen, an inletpipe secured to said cover andpassing through said screen holder,` adjustable means engaging saidinlet pipe and supporting the bottom of said screen holder, whereby thecover, inlet pipe, screen,screen yholder and nut form a single unit,vandleak-proof closures at the top and bottom ends of said screen, saidtop.,

,of said cover and said container, a iiange at the upper edge of saidcontainer adapted to be pressed into intimate contact with said gasketon the attachment and relative rota'- tion ofsaid cover and saidcontainer, a screen arranged concentricallywith and in' spaced relationto said inlet pipe., and of`larger diameter than the inner diameter ofsaid gasket, a cup-shaped holder for thelower part of said screen, agasket in said holder interposed between the lower edge of said screenand said holder, and means engaging the lower end of said pipe formoving said holder upwardly relatively to said pipe and for forcing theupper and lower ends of said screen into intimate contact with the covergasket and the holder gasket respectively.

3. In a gasoline purifier, a cover member having an inlet and an outletopening therein, an annular gasket on the under face of said cover, acontainer removably securable to said cover 'and adapted to engage theouter portion of said gasket, an inlet pipe secured to said cover andextending therefrom, a comparatively rigid cylindrical screen disposedabout and in spaced relation to said inlet pipe, a partly tapered holderfor the lower portion of said screen, a gasket in said holder interposedbetween the lower end of said screen and said holder, said holder havingan opening therein for the passage therethrough of said inlet pipe and anut screwed on the end of said inlet pipe and adapted to put pres sureupon said holder.

4. In a gasoline purifier, including a flanged cover and a containeradapted to fit inside of the flanges of said cover, an inlet pipe xedlysecured to said cover, a screen unit secured to said cover comprising acylindrical, comparatively rigid, metallic woven wire screen imperviousto water disposed concentrically about and in spaced relation to saidinlet pipe, a gasket interposed between the upper end of said screen andthe under surface of said cover, said gasket extending past the upperedge of the screen, and between tlie upper edge of the container and thecover, a holder for the lower portion of said screen having an openingin the bottom thereof for the passage therethrough of said inlet pipe, agasket interposed between the lower end of said screen and said holder,and means engaging said inlet pipe for forcing said holder and saidscreen in the direction of said cover.

5. In a gasoline purifier, including a cover having an inlet pipeprojecting axially thereof, a container cooperating with said cover, ascreen unit detachably secured in spaced relation to said pipecomprising a cylindrical, comparatively non-deformable, metallic screenformed of thin wire woven to provide interstices impervious to water, aholder for the lower portion of said screen, a resilient gasket betweenthe upper end of said screen and said cover and between the cover andthe container and a nut threaded to said inlet pipe for engaging andbodily adjusting said holder and said screen relatively to said cover.

6. In a gasoline purifier, including a cover having an inlet pipe fixedto and extending therefrom, a container, a screen unit removably andadjustably securable to said cover, comprising a comparativelynon-deformable, cylindrical, finely woven, metallic screen of wiresarranged to provide interstices impervious to water and having acomparatively smooth surface, arranged concentrically about and inspaced relation to said inlet pipe, said screen being of substantiallength and diameter, means for supporting the lower' end of said screen,a gasket between the cover and the container and screen, and meansengaging the lower end of said inlet pipe and for adjusting said screen,and said screen supporting means relatively to said cover and againstthe gasket.

` 7. In a gasoline purifier, a cover having an inlet opening and anoutlet opening therein, an inlet pipe secured to and projecting fromsaid cover, a screen unit disposed about said pipe, means for supportingthe lower end of said screen, means engaging the lower end of said pipefor securing said screen and said screen supporting means in positionwith relation to said cover, a container closed at the bottom thereof, acam ring on the upper end of said container and substantially circularspring means loosely mounted in said cover engaging the cams lof saidcam ring and locking said container and said ring to said cover on thepartial rotation of said container.

8. In a gasoline purifier, including a cover, a container and a screenunit adjustably secured to said cover, means for locking said containerand said cover together comprising a cam ring, a series of camsprojecting from said ring, an open spring ring loosely mounted in saidcover, projections on said spring ring adapted to engage said cams, andmeans on said cover for engaging said ring and preventing relativerotation of said cover and said ring.

9. In a gasoline purifier, including a cover, a screen unit securable tosaid cover, and a container, means for locking said cover and saidcontainer in intimate contact comprising a cam ring disposed about saidcontainer. means for preventing relative rotation of said cam ring andsaid container, a series of spaced cams'projecting from said ring,ratchet teeth on said cam ring, a substantially circular open springring loosely` mounted in said cover, projections on said ring eachadapted to pass the lowermost end of one of said cams and to engage theunder side of the adjacent cam, and a spring secured to said cover andadapted to engage the teeth on said cam ring.

10. In a gasoline purifier, including a cover and a container, an inletpipe projecting from said cover, an elongated screen unit of slightlyless length than said container securable to said inlet pipe with theupper end thereof forming a leak-proof closure with said cover, a springring on said cover and 'a cam ring on said container adapted to coactwith said spring ring for locking said cover and container together onthe partial relative rotation of said container and said cover.

11. In a gasoline purifier, a cover having a cylindrical groove in theinner face thereof, a screen unit operatively secured to said cover, acontainer, and means for removably locking said container and said covertogether comprising an open, substantially circular, wire spring ring inthe groove of said cover, a series of projections on said ring, a camring on said container, a series of spaced cams projecting outwardlyfrom said cam ring and adapted to be engaged by said projections, andmeans for preventing relative rotation of said cam ring and saidcontainer.

12. In a gasoline purifier, a cover, a fiat spring secured to said coverand depending at 'substantially right angles therefrom, a container, atoothed ring on said container engageable by said spring for resistinrotation of said container, and means on sai ring and said cover forbringing said container and said cover into intimate contact on thepartial rotation of said container.

13. In a gasoline purifier, a one-piece container open at the top andclosed at the bottom thereof and ada ted to hold a filterin liquid atthe bottom t ereof, a cover adapte to be secured in position in aasoline feed line having a depression'in t e inner fiat surface thereoffor the reception of a asket, and having a central inlet o ening anaside outlet opening therein, a gas et in the depression of said cover,an inlet pipe arranged with the lower end thereof slightly above saidcontainer in the o erative position of said con- `tainer, a cylin rical,wire cloth, smooth surfaced metallic screen impervious to the filteringliclluid surrounding said pipe, a partly conica screen holder having anopening at the bottom thereof for the passage of said inlet pi e, ayshouldered portion in said screen holder or the reception of av gasket,a gasket in said shouldered portion, a nut threaded to the end of saidinlet i e and ada ted to engage the bottom of sai screen hol er forforcing the lower edge of said screen into intimate contact with thegasket in said screen holder and for forcing the upper ed e of saidscreen into intimate contact with t e gasket in said cover, a cam ringon the outside of said container, and a spring ring loosely mounted insaid cover andadapted to enga e the cams of said cam ring for forcingsai container.

and in spaced relation to said container bot-l tom and terminating at apoint close to said "bottom, means for adjustably securing saidscreening unit about said pipe, and a filtering liquidv arranged in thebottom of said container and covering the lower end of said inlet pipe.

HENRY E. PELLETIER.

inlet and outlet openings therein, a

